Attachment for desk-drawers and the like



Patented NOV. 22, 1921.

3 .SHEETSSHEEI 1.

I J. H. HOTSON.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1919.

ATTACHMENT FOR DESK DRAWERS AND THE LIKE.

VIIIIIIIIII 3min wtw J. H. HOTSON.

ATTACHMENT FOR DESK DRAWERS ANDTHE LIKE.

Patented Nov. 22 1921.

avwewtoz I J. H. HOTSON.

ATTACHMENT FOR DESK DRAWERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION man JULY 26. I919.

1 39 023 Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3- @31 I a-T towvm a side elevation turned the other UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. HOTSON, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR DESK-DRAWERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed July 26,

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Ho'rsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at present in the city of Mount Vernon, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Desk- Drawers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiicient means for partitioning or subdividing receptacles, such as desk drawers and the like, for the purpose of holding sheets of paper, envelops, blanks and the like, easily inserted in such drawers, and adjustable to drawers of different sizes.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various elements and parts, as set forth in this specification and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, showing the same placed in a desk drawer, a portion of the drawer being shown in section; Fig. 2 is of the front supporting member of my invention showing the same way from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear portion of my invention, showing the same turned the other way from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of a desk drawer showing my device therein; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of an art justing device used as part of my invention hereinafter more particularly described; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a partition or dividing wall forming tion; Fig. 9 is a detail view of the same: Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified form of one of the parts of my invention, showing the same in connection with the detail shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; Fig. 11 is a top view of the front supporting member shown in the side elevation in Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of partition or dividing wall; and Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the trays forming part of my invention, showing a stack of sheets of paper on the same.

In carrying my invention into effect in the embodiments thereof which I have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, I provide a series of trays 1, adapt- Specification of Letters Patent.

part of my inven- Patented Nov. 22, 1921. 1919. Serial No. 313,428.

ed to hold sheets of paper, blanks or the like, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and turned up at the sides 2 and the rear end 3. These trays are shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 4 and a modified form of one of such trays is shown in Fig. 10, provided with an adjustable paper-stop hereafter to be described. From the front part of the tray a portion is cut out, leaving a gap 1 as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the contents of the tray next below; the upturned rear edge 3 of the tray stands at an acute angle to the floor of the tray, so that when sheets of paper of uniform length are stacked therein the successive sheets project slightly each beyond the one next below, as shown in Fig. 13, whereby the user is enabled to easily pick off the top sheet from the stack 72.

Each of the trays 1 is provided on each side, near its front end, with a downwardly projecting lug 17, preferably cut out from the material of the floor of the tray. These lugs 17 are of a peculiar shape best shown in Fig. 13, and it will be observed that each comprises a larger upper portion, under which is a constricted or narrow portion formed by notches 21 and 22 under which the lug again enlarges forming a portion 24. It should be particularly observed that these lugs are cut from the floor of the tray in such a way that when bent downward therefrom they do not lie directly in a longitudinal diameter of the tray but in a plane slanting backward and inward toward the middle of the tray, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. this being for the purpose of guiding the sheets of paper inserted in the tray in such a manner that the lower edge of same having passed between one pair of downwardly projecting lugs, will not be obstructed by the lower parts of the next succeeding pair of lugs.

Each of the trays 1 is also provided, a short distance back of the lugs 17 above described, with a pair of slots 19 (see particularly Fig. 4) which, in each tray, are adapted to permit the passage of the lower parts 24 of the lugs 1 of the superjacent tray as shown in Fig. 1, as faras the notches 21 and 22, so that the shoulders 20 above the notches 21 rest upon the floor of the subjacent tray at the front ends of the slots 19. thereby supporting the trays at a predetermined distance apart, leaving a space Fig. 1 and designated 19, which may for the reception of sheets of paper or. like.

In order to support the front ends of the series of trays, which rest one upon another as above described, in a suitable and convenient slanting position, 1 provide afront supporting member (shown in position in Fig. 1, and standing alone, but turned the other way, in Fig. 2). This supporting member I have designated 5, and it will be seen, best shown in Fig. 2, that it com prises a base or floor portion 11, provided with perforations 6, (see plan view Fig. 11) through which may be inserted thumb-tacks or other securingdevices 75 for the purpose of attaching the said supporting member to the bottom of the desk drawer 7 1, as shown more I particularly in Fig. 1. It will of course be understood that my invention is primarily adapted foruse in connection with wooden drawers or other receptacles, as the use of the invention involves the attachment of the same to such drawers by thumb-tacks or thelilre which are capableof being easily inserted into the wood. From the rear edge of the floor portion 11 of this supporting member 5 a partition member 18 projects upward, and from the front edge of the floor 11 a partition member 86 projects upward;.

these members 48 and 86 form between them a receptacle, shown more particularly in be used for keeping pens, pencils or other small articles. Projecting forward from the top of the partition and supporting member 86, and

slanting upward, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is an extension portion which comprises a floor 10 (See Fig. 11) having upturned side edges 12 and 13. A portion of one of these side edges is formed into a. flexible tongue 9 (see Figs. 2 and 11) provided with a perforation S near'its free end. When this front supporting member 5 is placed in position in the drawer, in addition to the thumbtacks which secure the'lower portion 11 as already described, the upper portion is secured to the sides of the drawer thumbtaclrs or the like inserted through the perforation 7 in the upturned side 12 and through the perforation 8 in the tongue 9. The ob ject of the tongue 9 is to allow the device to be used in drawers of different widths;

The front supporting member above described is provided near its front corners withYtwo dowiiwardly" extending V lugs 16, formed from a portion of the floor and upturned edge (see. Figs. 1, 2 and 11). The openings 77 left in the floor 10 are adapted to receive the lugs 17 of the trays, when the structure is assembled as hereinafter described; and the lugs 16 project downward in planes some little distance inside of the planes of the side edges 12 and 13, so that said lugs 16, when the apparatus is assembled,1ie inside of the lugs 17 of the trays 13 on the other side,

(see particularly Fig. 1), and thereby prevent any interference between said lugs 17 and material which may be placed in the space below the floor 10 of the frontsupporting member 51 In the fioor 10 of this front supporting member are also provided openings 4&7, which are adapted to receive the lower parts 2 1 of the lugs 17 of a tray 1 when the structure is assembled as hereinafter described. In the floor is also provided a large hand-opening as shown at 46 in Fig. 11, the object of which is to permit access to the space below the slanting portion 10 when the front ends of the superjacent trays are slightly lifted up.

If desired, studs or pins may be inserted into the bottom of the desk drawer as shown in Fig. 1, to serve as stops or pivotal bearings for the inner ends of the trays 1 when the front ends of same are lifted up, but I do not consider'such studs or pins essential, as I have found in practice that the trays are securely-held together. against slippage, even when the same are lifted up, by the engagement of the lugs 17 with the slots of the tray below.

At the rear part of the drawer Iprovide a member which is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in perspective, but turned the other way, in Fig. 3 This member may be termed a hood and is adapted to cover the inner end of the upper tray, as shown in Fig. 1, and to provide on its upper surface and back of its upwardly extending partition member 45, a compartment in which material may be stored as desired. This hood member is secured to the drawer by thumb-tacks or the like placed through perforations 4:0 in a rearwardly ext-ending flange 39, a perforation 12 in a lug 11 on one side and a perforation n. in a flexible tongue thus adapting the device for use in drawers of different widths.

In a modified form of tray shown in Fig. 10 I provide an adjustable stop device adapted to permit the tray to accommodate short sheets of paper. For this purpose Iprovide a member formed by cutting out a blank from sheet metal as shown in Fig. 5'. This is bentinto shape as shown in front elevation in Fig. 6 andin side elevation in Fig. 7 It will be observed that the parts 33 (Fig. 5) are bent into the form shown in Fig.6 thus forming spring friction members or guides,

and the portion 32 is bent upward at an obtuse angle with the portion 81 (see Fig. 7 thereby being adapted'to serve as a paperstop. The spring or guide members 33" are then inserted in slots 29 in the tray (see Fig. 10), by passing same through the enlarged end openings 30 of said slots, and the stop-' member is then adapted to slide forward and backward on said tray in a manner which will be obvious, thus adapting the tray for "the reception of sheets of paper of different lengths. The tray may be stiffened or strengthened by corrugations formed therein, as shown at 26 and 27 in Fig. 10.

In connection with my system of trays I may employ a vertical drawer partition, adjustable for drawers of different widths, which is shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 12 and which is intended to be inserted in the drawer in front of the trays as shown in the plan view Fig. 4. This device, while well adapted for use with the tray system above described and while the same has therefore been shown in the accompanying drawings, is really a separate device and is adapted for use as an adjustable partition for desk drawers, whether fitted with my tray system or not, and I make no claim to the same in the present application.

The different elements composing my invention are assembled together as follows. The front supporting member shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is first inserted in the desk drawer, being secured therein as above described. One of the trays, is then placed upon said supporting member, the lugs 17 being inserted through the slots or openings 77 (see Fig. 11), and outside of the lugs 16 of the supporting member (see Fig. 1). The second tray is then placed upon the first tray, the lower portion 24 of its lugs 17 passing through the slots 19 of the first mentioned tray. the shoulders 20 just above said lower portion 2a resting on the front ends of said slots 19. The other trays are inserted in like manner, the lugs of each partly entering and engaging with the slots of the next lower tray respectively. It will be observed that owing to the backward and inward inclination of the lugs 17, and the fact that the lower portion 2st of each lug is farther forward than the rear edge of the main portion of the lug, sheets of paper inserted in any one of the partitions are guided into a central position by the first set of lugs encountered by the paper so that they are not obstructed by the lower portions of the second set of lugs which are located further back in the partition. as will be obvious from Figs. 1 and 4:. The rear hood member 37 is then inserted in the drawer in the position shown in Fig. 1, and secured therein in the manner already described.

The operation or method of use of my invention will be quite clear from what I have above said with regard to its construction, and the advantages of the same will also be obvious from what has already been explained in connection with the construction and assembling of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An attachment for desk drawers and the like comprising in combination a plurality of trays, provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to engage the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably connect the trays together, said sockets and said projections extending backward and inward toward the longitudinal middle line of the trays.

2. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a tray, provided with longitudinal slots; of a paper stop provided with tongues adapted to pass through said slots and contact with the under side of the tray, whereby said paper-stop is adjustably secured to s id tray.

3. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a tray provided with longitudinal slots; of a paperstop provided with resilient tongues adapted to pass through said slots and yieldingly contact with the under side of the tray, whereby said paper-stop is adjustably secured to said tray.

4. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a tray provided with longitudinal slots; of a paperstop provided with resilient tongues adapted to pass through said slots and yieldingly contact with the under side of the tray, whereby said paper-stop is adjustably secured to said tray: The upwardly extending portion of said paper-stop being inclined at an acute angle with the forward part of the floor of the tray.

5. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a plurality of trays, provided with sockets and with downwardly extending projections, of a front supporting member for said trays removably connected therewith, adapted to elevate the front ends of said trays into a slanting position, said supporting member being provided with sockets adapted to engage with the projections of a superjacent tray, and with projections adapted to extend downward adjacent said projections of the superjacent tray.

6. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a plurality of trays, provided with sockets and with downwardly extending projections, of a front supporting member for said trays, adapted to elevate the front ends of said trays into a slanting position, said supporting member being provided with sockets adapted to engage with the projections of a superj acent tray, and with projections adapted to extend downward adjacent said proj ections of the superjacent tray and between said outer projections and the longitudinal middle line of the device.

7. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a plurality of trays, provided with sockets and with downtion into the drawer,

forwardly over .therear portions of said tra s.

8 In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a plurality of trays, provided with sockets and with clownwardly extending projections and a supportingmember for the front ends of said trays; of a rear hood member adapted to extend forwardly over the rear portions of said trays, and means for securing said hood member to a desk drawer or the like comprising a perforation at one side and a device adapted to pass through said perforation into the drawer, sidehaving a perforation therein and a device adapted to pass through said perforavice is adapted to be secured into drawers of different widths.

9. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a plurality of trays,provided with sockets and with down wardly extending projections and a support-. ing member for the front ends of said trays; of a rear hood member adapted to extend forwardly over the rear portions of said trays, and means for securing said-hood member to a desk drawer. or the like comprising a perforation at one side and a device adapted to pass through said perforation into the drawer, and a laterally deflectable tongue at the other side havinga perforation therein and a device adapted to pass through said perforation into the drawer, whereby said hood device is adapted to be secured into drawers of different widths, 10. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, ed to be used in desk drawers and the like in a slanting position, said tray being pro: vided with an upwardly extending member located transversely of the drawer adapted to serve as a retaining member for the contents of the tray; of an end member provided withmeans for securing same to a drawer comprising an adjustable device at one side of said endmember means adapted to engage with a drawer, whereby said end member is adapted to be secured into drawers of different widths.

11. An inclined tray adapted to support stacked sheets of paper, provided with a pair of fore and aft slots, a movable stop having portions adapted to bear against the outer edges of said'slots, whereby the movable stop tends to remain straight crosswise of the tray, and tensional lugs projecting and adjustable means at the other whereby said hood dethe combination with a tray, adapt:v

provided with" down through the slot and bearing up against the under side of the tray, whereby the stop is tensionally held in anyposition to which it may be moved. 7

12. In combination with a desk drawer, a

series of inclined trays, almember adapted to separate off from the trays the available space left by the trays at the rear end of the drawer, said member having an upright dividing piece and having an inclined member adapted to cover the lower part of the upper tray and provided with flanges turned down so that their edges rest on the bottom of the drawer in such a way that the inclined member issupported at a height adapted to permit the upper tray to have its front end raised. sufficiently to permit a hand to be inserted between it and the tray below for the purpose of adjusting paper thereon; said separating piece being provided with lugs with holes adapted to have inserted through them nails into the drawer.

13. In combination with a desk drawer and a series of inclined trays setting therein, a member adapted to separate off available space left by the trays at the rear end of the drawer, said member having lugs through which nails may be inserted into the sides of the drawer, one of the lugs being adapted to be extended out to take up differences of width of the drawer. f I 14:. In an attachment fordesk drawers and the like, the, combination with a tray; of a rear hood member separate and distinct from the rear portion of said tray, and means adaptedto secure said hood member to a desk drawer or the like comprising adjustable means at one side adapted to engage with the side of a drawer, whereby said hood device is adapted to be secured into drawers of different widths.

15. In an attachment for desk drawers and the like, the combination with a tray; of a rear hood member adapted to extend for wardly over therear portion of said tray and means adapted to secure said hood member to a desk drawer or laterally deflectable tongue at one side and means adapted to secure the free portion of said tongue to a desk drawer, whereby said hood device is adapted to be secured into drawers of different widths.

Signed at Manhattan, 1n the county of New York, city and State of New York, this.

25th day of July, 1919.

. I JOHN H. HOTSON. Witnesses;

Gno. J. CHAMBERS,

J. A. FRIEL.

the like comprising a' 

